Mixed Media canvas - Happy Birthday Mum!!!

Hello!

What I want to share with you today is one of my very favourite creations... The present I made last week for my mother's birthday - Happy Birthday Mum!

My first mixed media canvas:

Yes, I did my first mixed media canvas... and I enjoyed it sooo much! The main idea came from Vicki Boutin's book Creative Foundations. From there... I did whatever came to my mind and whatever I felt like doing! So...

I cut the heart from a box cardboard. I mod podged it with magazine pages, then I painted it with several acrylic paints and then with a baby wipe I would take off much of the colour. I glued the yellow buttons with dots and, of course, I had to finish it off with some doodling all around...

I enjoyed sooo much making the background! Much, much gesso, chipboard letters from my stash (that were too big to use in layouts, light green acrylic paint, on top turquoise acrylic paint again with baby wipe, thick clear embossing powder, gesso to make the circles and lines.

For the corner I used a ribbon that I sew to make the ruffles stick. Oh, and more clear embossing powder on the arrow that I had painted with red acrylic paint. I coloured the fabric thickers with Distress Inks.

And that's all. I was quite satisfied with this first attempt.

I hope you like it!

Hugs,
Anastasia

"Summery" birthday card

Hello!!!

I don't know how the weather is where you are right now, but I think that this summer has been especially hard (i.e. too hot) in Greece. I keep the a/c turned on almost all day long. But I have decided to leave on weekends until my holidays in September, because I left last weekend and it felt like mini holidays. So I'll be of this weekend as well.

Anyways... today I want to share with you a card that I made that I made a few days ago and I feel is very special to me. Here's the story: one day I received a message from a lady I didn't know. She was telling me that she was looking for handmade cards, stumbled upon my blog and liked the cards that I make. She asked me if I also make cards on request.

Now, you know that this is not something I'm doing professionally or by payment - and I didn't this time either. But it was the first time that someone asked me to make a card (except from friends and family that is), so it was really a pleasure to make a card for her. It was even easier for me as she already something in mind. So, combining the background of this card και and the idea of this card, I made the following card:

The "Happy Birthday" message in on the inside:

And a close-up photo to show you the dimension that I have given (although it's better understood when you actually see it live):

I hope you like it!

Hugs,
Anastasia

Supplies:

Get Creative August Card Challenge

Good morning!

How are you this splendid day? I'm out of Athens for the weekend with family, having a blast swimming... and spending time with my nephews! Heaven!!!

So today we have the Get Creative card challenge for August. We are still in holidays mode, so we are having only one challenge this month. "Back to school in September" (although that's when I'll be off on holidays, hehe)

So.... this month's challenge is to make a card with the following sketch:

And here's the card that I made:

And a close-up:

What made me really happy about this card is that I drew myself the image you see in the circle! I couldn't believe that I did that. And that's because I always said that I can't draw anything at all. But...

I always admired Stephanie Ackerman's work and when I saw her new online class "A whole new doodle" I signed up right away. I was so surprised when I realised how easy doodling could actually be thanks to her notes and explanations. And if I find it easy, believe me, it is easy for everyone! This made me think a lot over limiting beliefs... It is something I've been thinking about quite a lot lately.

But anyway, back to our card. I made this for our friend Ioanna who moved to Chicago last month. But, typical me, I forgot to bring it with me on our last farewell coffee!

Our sponsor this month is our own Irini and her Etsy shop Get Creative Embellishments. By now I have some of the wonderful flowers she makes and you will soon see them in one of my creations!

So why don't you come over at Get Creative for more inspiration by our design team... You can participate until August 30th. We are waiting to see your wonderful cards!

Hugs,
Anastasia